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Thoughts please

So i have a 1971 Mk1 Escort Mexico restoration project. Its going to be a while before i start it due to a new born and a toddler.

Initially I didnt think i would be lucky enough to get a genuine AVO car so was happy to settle for a replica. As such i looked at various cars for sale and like a lot of Mk1's many had been modified. Now i get the impression that most are happy to accept modified mk1's as long as they are done well however I know that there are many people that wont even entertain the thought of anything but original.

Personally i am happy to mix old and new as long as the exterior looks as it should and the car retains its general character

This is my first classic car and I have no knowledge of anything yet so was hoping to learn things as i went. The thing is i dont know what i want to do yet when it comes to original or a balance between original and user-friendly.

Ultimately my view is that i have spent my life savings on the car and it will be my pride and joy so i need to be happy with it however i worry about reducing the value too much especially if the worst should happen and i have to sell it. The problem i have is until I start seeing it go together i dont know what makes me happy, so just thought i would see how others feel about mixing old and new and how much a mod really affects the value.

One of the reasons i ask is because I have been to a few shows and seen some amazing examples which appear all original and clearly had a lot of money spent on them. But I went to one particular show and a guy pulled up in the car park as a spectator (not showing his car). He was driving a modified mk1 with a modern metallic paint job and had modified the interior etc but still within keeping of the age. Despite this, within minutes there were more people in the car park looking round his car than any other mk1 in the show.

Re: Thoughts please

Having done both its Standard for me. I think that folk go modified because standard parts are too dear, so they look for a cheap option. With ref to the bloke who tipped up at the show maybe the car was newly done and so folk are interested in it. At the end of the day Stu itís your car so you need to do what you want to it not what you think others want you to do with it. A good standard build will always be worth more.

Re: Thoughts please

It depends on your taste...if you want a racing look escort low and angry...(my choice lol) then get the nearest to what you nwant with the money you have...if you want an origanl look...again get the best you can afford....it will be cheaper in the long run to get a well done example rather than doing it yourself...an origanal car is worth more ..but costs more....for me it was about owning and building the escort to my style....if i spent 40000 on a car i would worry all the time about it...10000 i could use it and abuse it....just my thoughts...cheers mark

Re: Thoughts please

Standard-or if you do mod it use period correct and not cheap mass produced stuff that regularly doesn't fit-or use parts that are easily replaced to take back to standard. I guess most buyers would want originality over spec? I would.

Re: Thoughts please

If I were you I would keep the paintwork and exterior to something like what it was in it's original format or certainly from that period. The same goes really for the interior, modern seats can be fitted and originals put back in should you sell it. I would certainly keep the std Mex clocks if you have them.

You could fit a modern engine and box as long as you don't start cutting and chopping the shell and then put a X flow in it to sell. I would avoid 4 link kits and panard rods etc, maybe just keeping to a nice set of turrets if you have to, not really necessary if you have the later type shocker position on your shell.

At the end of the day it's your car and hard earned Brass that's invested in it so it's you call on what how you restore it. There are a lot of Hybrid Escorts for sale on the Net for around 20K and not many of them seem to be selling which tells me something. The best of luck to you which ever way you jump.

Re: Thoughts please

what's not been mentioned above is the difference between a genuine rs / mex etc and a 1300L - to me this makes the difference. rs model - keep it standard with period mods if you want to retain its value 1300L do what the hell makes you smile, who wants a standard one !

and even an rs if it was mine and a keeper i wouldnt hesitate to add power steering , hot motor etc or other subtle parts that would make it the car i wanted.

Thoughts please

I think any mods that ill make will be subtle ones. I dont plan to change the exterior really. It currently has capri laser rs style wheels on, but i may change these out for the jbw replicas just because they will be cheaper than a refurb and still look great. Ill fit some wingard style door mirrors too.

Going to keep the xflow which currently has a single carb. I dont have the airbox so plan to put some twin weber 40 dcoe's on it. I have 2 sets, one is in show condition completely refurbed, the other look their age but is fully functional not sure what one ill use yet

I have the standard 6 dial dash but may fit it with the brushed stainless bezel rather than painted version it has now. I also like the brushed dash kit like the picture i have attached. Cant say i want a flocked dash but the one in the pic certainly contrasts the stainless.

Not decided on interior, I am torn between original switch housing (i have 2 of these that have not been drilled or cut) refurbished switches with butlers map light etc which i already have. Or alternatively go modern with brushed stainless dash kit and led lit switches.

With regards to seats i have managed to get a nice set of roll tops, but also picked up a set of classic recaro lx which i may chose to have retrimmed in black. Love the look of the ones inhave attached.

Considering either a mk2 glove box, under dash trays or make a stainless glove box to match the dash like the one attached as i love how the dash looks with the silver and black.

I have an original 3 spoke steering wheel with rs centre or a dished springalex which i prefer.

So far i have been acquiring parts for both options and will sell what i dont need.

I also have an original Nos 1970's centre console which i may fit.

Love the brushed indicator stalks and also really considering power steering conversion but never even driven a mk1 yet so not sure i want too

Re: Thoughts please

That's my mk1 with the backlit LED buttons and brushed steel switchgear. The column is all Vauxhall Corsa, top to bottom. You'll find that if you want period correct or original parts they can cost an absolute fortune - for isntance I needed a new ignition barrel, but it was going to cost £200 for a new-old-stock one. I did the full Corsa EPS conversion with all of the fancy switchgear and control boxes for less.

It's a hard decision to make - to either go original or modified. I don't think there is anything wrong with either choice, to be honest!

Re: Thoughts please

I quite agree Megatron at the Piss taking prices some are asking for genuine parts. If the OP's car already has it then don't discard it is my advice. By all means put modern parts on to make it more appealing as long as the std ones can be put back at a later date. When I look back over the years at all the std stuff we have thrown away when building Rally cars makes me shudder, now folk are paying big money for it

Thoughts please

Originally Posted by Forest_rallying

I quite agree Megatron at the Piss taking prices some are asking for genuine parts. If the OP's car already has it then don't discard it is my advice. By all means put modern parts on to make it more appealing as long as the std ones can be put back at a later date. When I look back over the years at all the std stuff we have thrown away when building Rally cars makes me shudder, now folk are paying big money for it

That would be my plan, if i have modified parts then i will store original ones anyway so that i can swap them out if i ever want to; whether that would be for my own use or to sell it should that ever have to happen.